Missouri Vein Care Blog

Is It Normal to Feel Run Down and Tired at the End of the Day?

Written by Dr. Michael Ryan | June 25, 2020 at 4:11 PM

Is This You?

  • After a long day at work, your legs feel so tired and heavy that you can barely move them.
  • You find that after a day of taking care of kids and running errands, you feel so run down that you can hardly climb the stairs to get to bed. all you can think about is how much you would like to sit down and elevate your legs.
  • You want to get to the gym to get some exercise but with the pain in your legs and swollen feet, you have no energy to go - quite a change for you destroys your motivation.

Chances are, you can relate to one of those fairly common scenarios above...or one like it.

What is, unfortunately, equally as common is the fact that most of these patients tell me they thought it was “normal” to feel that way and nothing could be done to help them. I’m here to tell you that it’s not. It’s not normal to be so tired and run down that you can’t enjoy your life, that you have to put activities and people on hold because of your legs or fatigue. I’m also here to tell you that there IS something you can do about it.

The Psychology of Chronic Illness

When chronic fatigue sneaks up, we often chalk it up to getting older. We accept it all as a “new normal,” continuing to struggle as our health declines. I have seen patients blame themselves, thinking that they are doing something wrong.

Many well-meaning health care providers treat symptoms rather than underlying causes, overlooking the possibility of vein conditions. They may prescribe exercise programs or medications. But unless the root cause of your illness is well-understood, you are headed for a great deal of wasted time and frustration.

Don't Be Discouraged! Diagnosis and Treatment are Key.

An undiagnosed vein condition can easily create a domino effect. Maybe it starts with slightly swollen feet, or possibly the varicose veins that run in your family get bulgy and painful. Before you know it, you are so run down that the activities you did even a few months earlier are near to impossible.

There is a common but lesser-known cause of chronic fatigue - vein reflux. Vein reflux results in a variety of symptoms both visible and invisible: leg swelling, leg pain and discomfort, varicose veins, spider veins, discolored blotchy patches on the legs and ankles...and fatigue.

An evaluation and complimentary vein screening completed by our health care providers will begin the path to recovery. Symptoms in just one leg can be due to a variety of conditions, all of which are treatable. Typically, the amount of time it takes to notice an increase in stamina after vein treatments is 2 to 4 weeks but many patients note feeling a difference in energy levels almost immediately. Here are just a few of our many success stories:

 

If you've been challenged by chronic fatigue and exhaustion, don't let it control your life. An accurate diagnosis of a vein condition is critical. A complimentary vein screening, either in person or online, is the first step in figuring out the root of the problem. Our health care providers are here to help you get back to your normal and active self. Don’t wait...life is waiting for you to get back in the game.